A DIFFERENTLY - CURATED WORLD, 2min., USA
Directed by Kiersten White
In this age of Black nostalgia, as we see the remake of classic Black sitcoms and the reimagining of Black excellence using the tools, fashion, entertainment, and mediums of yesteryear-- we find that one particular community of Blacks is missing from the mainstream conversation, the LGBTQ+ community. Reimagine, with us, a Black and Queer utopia-- through the eyes of Black America's most famous coming-of-age sitcom.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

It is truly a passion project with the intent of highlighting the images and subjects who have helped shape our Black queer experience and honor those who we look to for guidance in their literature, work, and art. We hope to shed light on our queer predecessors who lived and loved openly in a time of less understanding. We aspire to give them their due diligence while pushing for a reemergence of interest in Black queer culture, outside of tokenization and fetishism.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The concept came to me in March of 2022, and the finished product came in August of the same year.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Nostalgia Reimagined!

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The biggest obstacle was planning and logistics, such as scheduling flights and booking hotels as I was both producer and director. My cast and crew were amazing! For the most part, everything went smoothly.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I'm so glad they got it! They understood the history I was telling while also appreciating the 90s "A Different World" title intro I was inspired from. It was a way of bringing queer history and literature to a somewhat contemporary understanding.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

In high school. Films were my only escape from a somewhat tumultuous upbringing. I wanted to inspire the same hope in others. I also just love the medium of storytelling that comes with stage and screen, and performers have always excited me!

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Eve's Bayou (dir. Kasi Lemmons, 1997)

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

Thanks for the interview, that will be so helpful! Also, would appreciate the opportunity to pitch my next film project for funds! Other than that, you all have been great!

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

FilmFreeway is the go to and never disappoints, unless of course your film is rejected (lol).

10. What is your favorite meal?

A buttery-herby filet of salmon, mashed potatoes and broccoli.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I will be producing the pilot for a tv/web series called "Black Girls Kissing". It's a genre-bending anthology series that follows a relationship between two women, Zora and Nia, throughout multiple time/realities. The pilot can stand alone as a short film so we will be producing that first and then raising funds for the rest of the series.